HBA-GUM H.B. 2714 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2714 By: Dutton Urban Affairs 4/6/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE H.B. 2714 extends the notice requirement under Section 143.1014, Subchapter G, Local Government Code (relating to the requirements for certain meetings or hearings), to a meeting conducted to provide a fire fighter or police officer with notice of the department's decision concerning disciplinary action. In addition, this bill entitles a fire fighter who is given notice of such a meeting to all documents related to the internal departmental or other municipal investigation of the fire fighter, and to two representatives at the meeting. The City of Houston is currently the only municipality affected by Subchapter G, since it applies to a municipality with a population of 1.5 million or more. Thus, H.B. 2714 would affect only a City of Houston fire fighter or police officer. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 143.1014, Local Government Code, as follows: Sec. 143.1014. New title: REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN MEETINGS OR HEARINGS. (a) Includes a meeting conducted to provide a fire fighter or police officer notice of the department's decision concerning disciplinary action among the meetings the department is required to inform the fire fighter or police officer of 48 hours in advance. Makes a conforming change. (b) Makes no change. (c) Entitles a fire fighter, who is provided notice of a meeting or hearing in accordance with Subsection (a), to all documents related to the internal departmental or other municipal investigation of the fire fighter. Requires that such documents be provided to the fire fighter not later than the 48th hour before the hour on which the meeting or hearing under this subsection is held. (d) Entitles a fire fighter who is the subject of a meeting conducted under Subsection (a) to two representatives at the meeting. Provides that the representatives are not required to be attorneys. Entitles the representative to be present to advise the fire fighter and to present any evidence or information for the fire fighter. Prohibits any action preventing a representative from participating in the meeting. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.